Chris Minard comes through in shootout to give Griffins 3-2 win against Houston

HOUSTON -- Chris Minard repeatedly has said that he was signed by the Grand Rapids Griffins to score goals.

He didn't find the back of the net in regulation Sunday night, but found a way to come through when it counted the most.

Minard, who has only four goals in 42 games this season, notched the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout to give the Griffins a 3-2 comeback win against the Houston Aeros at the Toyota Center.

Jamie Tardif and Derek Meech scored for the Griffins, who erased an early 2-0 first-period deficit.

It was the first time this season that Grand Rapids came back to win when it trailed after two periods (1-17-0-1).

Meech tied it with 10:18 remaining in the game with a shot that rang off the left goalpost and just crossed the goal line.

GRIFFINS 3, AEROS 2 (SO)

Next game: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Texas

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That led to the shootout, where the Griffins fell behind 2-0 after three rounds.

But Grand Rapids goalie Jordan Pearce stopped Houston's final three attempts, and Jamie Johnson and Tardif beat Hackett to set up Minard's game-winning blast from about 20 feet out.

Pearce finished with 24 saves.

Houston's Robbie Earl picked off a pass and scored on a breakaway to open the scoring 7:05 into the first. Less than 2 minutes later, Patrick O'Sullivan made it 2-0 for the Aeros when he drove a shot inside the left goalpost.

Grand Rapids' Adam Keefe fought Houston's Drew Bagnall just 20 seconds into the second. It was Keefe's fifth fight in six games since he was signed by the Griffins on Jan. 5.

Houston took a 5-minute power play into the third after Grand Rapids' Jordan Owens was hit with a major penalty for boarding, but the Aeros mustered only two shots in that time.

It was the lone power-play opportunity referee Jeff Smith awarded in the game.